Preliminary Report: Most of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Remains Intact
A preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities indicates that the majority of enriched uranium remained undamaged.
The Financial Times reported on this, citing sources in European governments.
According to them, preliminary intelligence suggests that the 408 kg stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons grade was not stored at Fordow. Instead, the uranium was likely distributed among other facilities.
These findings cast doubt on U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of the alleged complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear program as a result of the bombing.
European governments are still awaiting a final intelligence report on the extent of the damage to the nuclear facility at Fordow. The preliminary assessment indicates significant destruction; however, the site was likely not completely destroyed.
At a Pentagon briefing, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth avoided directly answering whether the uranium stockpile had been evacuated from Fordow before the strikes began.
Meanwhile, President Trump rejected the preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment that was leaked to the media, which suggested that Iran’s nuclear program had only been temporarily halted — for approximately a few months.
Trump blamed the leak on his political opponents, without providing any evidence.
In parallel with the European assessment, the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission stated that, in its view, the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes had “significantly set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.”
On June 22, 2025, the United States carried out a coordinated operation targeting three key facilities associated with Iran’s nuclear program.
One of the primary targets was the Fordow uranium enrichment plant, located in a remote mountainous region and considered a critical component of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Additional strikes were conducted against facilities in Natanz and Isfahan.
The operation involved six B-2 bombers for the strike on Fordow, while a separate bomber was deployed for the mission in Natanz. Submarines also played a role in the Natanz and Isfahan strikes, launching a total of 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
